Know Before You Tell - The Three-Part Framework Every Communicator Needs

Communication is never about how you speak. It’s about how it lands on your audience.

In episode 299 of the Think Fast Talk Smart podcast, Matt Abrahams speaks to Farnaz Khadem. Farnaz is the Vice President of University Communications at Stanford University. She oversees Stanford’s global media relations, digital strategy, and internal communication. She has also served as the Vice President of Communications at Caltech, and in other leadership roles, notably at Pfizer and the US Department of State. She is here to reveal her personal playbook for effective business communication.

In this episode, Fernaz and Matt will teach you about:
• The secret weapon even expert communicators often ignore
• Why the channel you’re on is as important as your message
• How best to prepare for a crisis
• What to do when that preparation is not enough
• The counterintuitive idea of what makes a great story

This episode is a real masterclass in crisis communication from Farnaz, as she skilfully unpacks the frameworks, instincts, and hard-won lessons that separate adequate communicators from truly great ones.

Key Quotes
• “Communication, if you do it well, is an art. And not everybody can do that.” - Farnaz Khadem (06:51)
• “If what is happening is you don't know what is happening, you have to tell people you don't know what is happening.” - Farnaz Khadem (10:47)

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:06 The Rule of 3 in Communication
02:38 Picking the Right Channel
05:51 Not Everyone Can Communicate
08:26 Crisis Communication: Before, During, and After
12:42 What Makes a Good Story
14:37 How Stanford’s Comms Team Uses AI
17:40 Matt’s 3 Questions
23:15 Conclusion

Relevant Links:
Farnaz Khadem: https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/farnaz-khadem/

Episode References:
https://www.fastersmarter.io/22-under-pressure-how-to-communicate-clearly-and-timely-during-a-crisis/

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